As Rust Cohle put it on HBO The real detective“Time is a flat circle.” So maybe it’s not a big surprise Max is the latest service to bring cable-style linear channels to a premium streaming service.
It is starting to test these channels in the US. Some ad-free subscribers will see a channels option on the home page of adult profiles. This will take you to a selection of HBO programming channels 24/7, including simulcasts of HBO and HBO 2. Other channels will show prestige drama, comedy and shows, such as classic HBO movies and documentaries.
The channels work pretty much like any linear TV network in the modern age. You can restart shows, rewind and fast forward. On select devices, you’ll be able to switch between channels directly in the player, without having to go back to the channel hub.
This initial launch lays the groundwork for more themed channels, which will begin arriving next year. according to Max can even offer custom streaming channels later.
These channels can help you avoid wasting time instead of scrolling through Max while you figure out what to watch. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, maybe just turn on HBO Comedy. Warner Bros. Discovery ( WBD ) will surely hope that channels increase engagement and keep people using the streaming service. At the end of the day, many people simply tune into CBS because they want to watch them something and they trust the network brand enough to deliver a show that suits them.
Max already offers linear channels in Europe. Crave, a Canadian streaming service that has exclusive rights to the HBO library in this market, also offers simulcasts of HBO and HBO 2. WBD notably included Westworld i The Nevers from Max a couple of years ago. Roku and Tubi with HBO shows and other WBD shows.
Rivals also have their own linear channels, including Disney+, and Peacock Amazon, on the other hand, is and moving its programming to Prime Video.
As if it weren’t obvious enough that media conglomerates are trying to recapture the heady success that cable saw for decades, they’re teaming up with each other through streaming bundles. One grabs you for $30 a month, while Comcast offers a package of for $15 a month.
Are you saving money (compared to subscribing to these services separately) while dumping a bunch of programming you don’t care about on your lap? This is all really just cable 2.0.
